Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, sent a letter to Anna Maria Mayor Mike Selby last week stating its desire to be considered as a site for a future cell tower in Anna Maria.
The letter follows a similar request from the Anna Maria Island Community Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, to place a cell tower — personal wireless services facility — on its property. The center board indicated it would like to share in any income the city derives from a tower on center property. The center leases its property from the city.
A new cell tower ordinance is being prepared by city attorney Jim Dye in consultation with wireless services expert Rusty Monroe to replace the current ordinance, which went into effect in 2003.
While a number of cellular communications facilities companies have made presentations to both the city and the community center board in recent years, no company has yet made an application for a cell tower.
In 2001, Roser indicated a company was interested in placing a cell tower atop the church steeple and asked the city to consider allowing the cellular facility. A public outcry against a cell tower there resulted in the church withdrawing its request.
The city then spent more than $60,000 to have a personal wireless services facilities master plan and ordinance prepared by wireless communications expert Ted Kreines of California.
The ordinance restricts cell towers to a maximum height of 37 feet and requires a 150-foot fall zone for any tower.
Critics of the ordinance have claimed there is no location in the city with a 150-foot fall zone.
Commissioner Dale Woodland has said the reason no company has applied to build a tower is because the city’s ordinance is too restrictive.
Under federal law, municipalities cannot restrict cell tower construction, but can implement location and sight requirements on such a structure.